Friday, November 6, 2009

You Will Save Big On Motorcycle Insurance -- Learn The Secret

By Dan Danmenn

The secret to getting the best deal on motorcycle insurance is not really a secret at all. Its just plain common sense. If you think like an insurance company you will quickly master the "secrets" and potentially save yourself a lot of money at the same time.

1. Driver age and experience -- You may not be able to change your age or driving experience but be aware that the older the driver of the bike and the more driving experience (in particular accident free experience) the lower your rates will be.

Education can also help. Many insurance companies will give credit for the completion of a motorcycle safety class. Drivers of any age can take advantage of this and lower their insurance bill.

2. Bike age, cost and modifications -- Of course the more expensive the bike and more risk to the insurance company and the higher the cost of the insurance. Especially if you make modifications to the bike, insurance costs can skyrocket. That's because the cost of replacing those modifications is often high.

If you are a younger first-time biker you can significantly reduce your insurance costs by buying an older, lower powered and less expensive bike. Conversely newer model and higher powered or racing bikes naturally have higher replacement and accident risks and therefore higher insurance costs.

3. Bike security and storage -- The more secure your storage area the more likely you'll get a good discount on insurance since bike theft becomes less of a risk. If you have a locked garage to store the bike in, be sure to tell your insurance company.

Similarly if you have an immobilizing device or other security device like LoJack on your bike you will score points with your insurance company. You can purchase and install an effective bike immobilizer device for less than $100.

4. Driver and passenger safety -- Get insurance discounts for wearing the right safety equipment. Of course a helmet is a must, but some companies may give you discounts for other types of equipment and devices. Check with them.

Insuring passengers is expensive but necessary. Make sure they wear the same safety equipment and have the same coverage as you. You may not realize it, but bikers are sued more often by passengers than anyone else. If you typically do not have passengers you should be able to pay less for your insurance.

Be sure to consider these basic four factors before you go insurance shopping (even before you buy your bike). Most every insurance company will make significant rate concessions when you fall on the conservative side of any one of these four factors.

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